Ode to Roy

Many thought that once Dean Smith left the Tarheels, the team would be done for. Rumors were confirmed with shaky coaching choices in Bill Guthridge and Matt Doherty. Many thought Roy Williams would be just another bad choice in coaches for Carolina. Roy came over from University of Kansas where he was second place in most wins. Williams was born in Marion, a small town in North Carolina and grew up in Asheville, NC. He lettered in basketball at T.C. Robertson High School in Asheville. Williams played basketball for the Tarheels under Dean Smith. I guess this explains the intensity in his passion for the game as played by Carolina. He coached as a high school basketball and golf coach before he worked as an assistant coach to Dean Smith. From there he coached at Kansas. He was offered the job at Carolina in 2000 but turned it down. His loss in the title game against Syracuse in 2003 settled the deal for him to move in down south. Coach Williams in now a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame and also received the John Wooden "Legends" award. Roy Williams. With many other awards, Williams stands as a coaching legend.

A History Lesson

I feel that it is necessary that if you are reading this blog, that you understand the history behind the title "Tobacco Road". Tobacco road, or now known as Interstate 40, is a road that runs between Duke, University of North Carolina, North Carolina State, and Wake Forest. All of the schools are within 25 miles of each other with the exception of Wake Forest. Wake Forest is only an hour down I-40 or tobacco road. It used to be located within the 25 mile limit in Wake Forest, NC until it was relocated to Winston Salem, NC. These four Universities are known as the Big Four and have competed in the "Dixie Classic" tournament and the "Big Four" tournament. The fight song for NC State mentions all four schools in the lines, "Come over the hill, Caroline. Devils and Deacs stand in line." Come over the hill is replaced with "go to hell" by fans simply of hatred for the Tarheels. Although these four schools in the Research Triangle of NC are all competitive, the main competition is the "Battle of the Blues". Carolina and Duke. Nothing more needs to be said. A poll conducted by ESPN in 2000 ranked it the 3rd greatest sports rivalries of ALL TIME. The game on March 4, 2006 was the most watched game in college basketball history. At least two times a year the two teams meet. North Carolina is leading the series 127-98. The two schools have won the ACC title 79% of the time that the ACC has existed. Duke has won three National Titles and fourteen final fours. North Carolina has 5 championships and an NCAA record 16 final four appearances. The best account, I believe, of the rivalry is the Will Blythe's description. He said, "to legions of otherwise reasonable adults, it is a conflict that surpasses sports; it is locals against outsiders, elitists against populists, even good against evil. The rivalry may be a way of aligning oneself with larger philosophic ideals -- of choosing teams in life -- a tradition of partisanship that reveals the pleasures and even the necessity of hatred."

RIVALRY HISTORY

Tobacco Road at its Finest

The big game is coming. You know what I'm talking about. The stats are clear. UNC 26-2. Dook 23-3. As of now, our Tarheels are sitting pretty at number one in the most competitive conference in college basketball. Now we have to prove it as we play at Cameron. The Cameron Crazies, Dukes nationally renowned student section, will be there to welcome us with all the hate they can muster. I can't wait.....

Tobacco road rivalry

Another One?

Some may say, "Mr. Krzyzewski, what are you doing with your life." I simply laugh and remind this person that the infamous Dookies have lost another game to an unranked opponent. Miami has defeated Duke for the first time in 45 years. I guess is just not the devils season. A loss to Wake Forest, which Carolina stomped 89-73 on Saturday, and a loss to Miami will plummet the standing of the Blue Devils. Also in recent basketball news, number one Memphis loses at home to number two Tennessee. This means Tennessee will move to number one and Carolina will most likely move to number two as Duke is nowhere to be found. These are glorious days in college hoops. This is our year Tarheels! We're goin' to the big dance baby!
hurricanesports.cstv.com/

HAHA!!! Dookies

Carolina spirit is sky-high after a shocking Duke loss to Wake Forest. Duke was ranked #2 headed into this game while an unranked Wake Forest squad was struggling very much to say the least. The contest was an ugly affair to say the least. Five Duke players fouled out while each team had at least 20 turnovers. The most surprising part of this game is the fact that the game's top 2 scorers were both Wake Forest Freshman. People feel that the ACC is down from recent years, and that's fine. When you see Freshman going out there and beating the #2 team in the nation, you can only smile about the future for teams like Wake Forest. For Carolina fans, it always a good thing when Duke loses, but this lose means so much more to Tar Heel nation. This loss puts Carolina only one game back of Duke in the ACC standings. This means a Carolina win against the Devils in the regular season finale (pending 0 losses between Duke and Carolina) will result in a Carolina-Duke tie for first place. What this means to all Tar Heels fans. Beat Duke in the regular season finale and beat Duke in the ACC tourney, and your Tar Heels will receive a #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. As always Go Heels and beat those Devils!!!
wakeforestsports.cstv.com/

Injuries Galore

The game against Virginia could be summed up just by watching the team unload the bus. First is Ty Lawson with a boot on. Then Ginyard was wearing the same thing. And last you would see Hansbrough wearing sandals. I can't explain North Carolina's point guard problems to the degree that they are in. First string- injured. Second string- injured. Third String- picked up 3 fouls before the half and 4 fouls four minutes into the second half. Yes, it continues. Fourth string- turf toe and sprained ankle. Carolina has no point guard. It is a miracle that we even beat Virginia. I believe these injuries are going to thoroughly effect the rest of the season.

Close Call

WHOOAAAA!!! Way to close for comfort for our Tarheels. The final score of the UNC vs. Virginia was 75-74. This game was supposed to be a blowout. Sean Singletary of Virginia put up 27 points exceeding the 23 scored by Hansbrough. Don't get me wrong, its good to win, but this was cutting it a little to close. Good old Wayne Ellington put up 19 to help the Tarheels in this Victory.

Get Ready

Another ACC match up for the tar heels awaits tomorrow night in the hometown of Dave Matthews. Virginia is ready for an upset and has been waiting on the greatest team in the ACC to come to Charlottesville to brawl. Be ready for a heated competition in Virginia and keep checking for updates on the Tarheels at the link below.
http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/

Comeback and Victory

In the history of UNC basketball against Clemson, Carolina has never lost to Clemson at the Dean dome. Carolina was down 11 points with three minutes left in regulation. Carolina rallied and came back to take the two teams into overtime. Tyler Hansboro was one point shy of his all time scoring record of 40 with 13 of the points coming in the two overtimes. Ellington, who was ice cold in the Duke game, must have warmed up because he contributed 28 points to the Carolina scoreboard. Although they are still missing star point guard, Ty Lawson, they have proved they can win a tough game without him. Coach Roy Williams said of the game, ""Fellas, it wasn't looking good. We were looking at a 30-point butt-kicking there about 5 or 6 minutes into the game, If I live to be 106, I won't be any more proud of a group of kids than I am of that bunch right there." This is the Carolina team that I believe will carry the Tarheels back to the Big Dance.

This is a picture from last years match between the two rivals in which Duke's Gerald Henderson in desperation elbowed Tyler Hansbrough and broke his nose. This elbow was thrown due to the fact that Duke was down nearly 10 points with less than a minute to go.

We've been Dooked!

Last night, February seventh in the year of 2008, the North Carolina Tarheels lost to Duke. It ended the 3 game winning streak by Carolina in the rivalry series. This is disappointing for Tarheels fans because they know that their first and second string point guards were injured and two of their leading scorers, Ellington and Green, were ice cold.